OJC announces results of 2nd Annual Challenges in Science

Tuesday

Dec 24, 2013 at 3:00 PM

OJC Math and Science and STEM departments hosted their 2nd Annual Challenges in Science competition on Dec. 11. Top middle and high school science students participated in the event. Challenges in Science provides a fun and challenging environment intended to foster growth and confidence in students' learning and abilities in the area of science.

OJC Math and Science and STEM departments hosted their 2nd Annual Challenges in Science competition on Dec. 11. Top middle and high school science students participated in the event. Challenges in Science provides a fun and challenging environment intended to foster growth and confidence in students' learning and abilities in the area of science.
"Challenges in Science was designed to encourage and feed young scientists' appetite for a little friendly competition," stated Debbie Phillips, coordinator of campus and community events.
The Challenges in Science opening session featured Wayne Beadles, director of the 18th Annual OJC Arkansas Valley Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Students received booklets containing the documentation and instructions needed to participate in this year's science and engineering fair. Beadles talked with the students about the necessary paperwork, timelines and authorizations needed for specific projects. A presentation and video gave students some ideas on how to select a project. Visit www.ojc.edu for all documents related to the science fair. The 18th Annual Arkansas Valley Science and Engineering Fair will be held Feb. 20-22, 2014, on the OJC campus.
Students in grades 6-12 from seven area school districts as well as home schooled middle and high school students competed in one of three levels. Level 1 was for middle school students who have had only middle school science classes. Level 2 included middle and high school students who are taking high school science classes. The Level 3 competition was for students who have or are currently taking AP or college level science courses. Area teachers who selected the students also assigned their level of expertise.
Students were divided into groups by level to take their science test. Students were given 60 minutes to complete the test. While the test scoring and rating was being done, students had the opportunity to attend a two-hour workshop.
This year's Challenges in Science workshops included:
The Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Warming workshop, instructed by Dr. Joel Gray, allowed students to learn about atmospheric gases and complete spectroscopic experiments.
Hot Ice, instructed by JJ Autry and Warren McClure, offered a hands-on opportunity to learn how understanding the properties of solutions can lead to creating hot ice. The solution created could be poured into a mold to make an instant sculpture.
In Grossology, Gross Anatomy: The Amazing Human Body, instructor Lisa Gallegos took students on a journey through the human body. They explored the human central nervous system and human reflexes, learned about the skeletal and muscular systems, and followed blood as it flowed through the heart and the circulatory system.
"Students experienced the gross anatomy as we built the gastrointestinal system with clay and discussed nutrition, digestion and the foods they eat," said Gallegos. "Students had the opportunity to see the human body from inside and out as they discovered new details about their amazing bodies."
Mass Extinction Events in Earth's History was conducted by Mark Korbitz. Students examined evidence for mass extinctions in the past 600 million years and discussed possible explanations including asteroid and comet impact events, super volcanism, and relatively rapid changes in global climate. Students participated in several hands-on activities including identifying fossils; determining the densities of various rock samples and a piece of meteorite; and calculation of momentum.
Let's Get Wormy with It was conducted by instructors Emma Locke and Brooke Matthew. Students learned about vermicomposting, which relies on red wiggler worms to break down vegetable foodstuffs and other carbon-based wastes into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. This form of composting does not generate heat and has little odor, so it can be done on a small scale indoors.
"Participants learned why compost is good for soil, how worms reproduce and what foodstuff makes a good candidate for vermicomposting," explained Locke. "How to separate compost and worms when it's time to harvest compost was also discussed."
Nursing Simulator Lab tours and demonstrations were conducted by Jaclynn Johnson. Students could experience firsthand how OJC nursing students learn and practice their nursing skills on realistic computerized patients.
Amusement Park Physics was taught by instructor Yolonda Jaramillo. Students who had the need for speed learned the forces of roller coaster fun. Students were able to build their own amusement park rides complete with loops, small dips, hills and banked turns.
During the awards ceremony, held in the Ed Stafford Theatre, various students were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in the Challenges in Science competition. Winners were presented award certificates for their level and placing. In addition, first place winners in levels 2 and 3 received an OJC Scholarship to cover tuition for a 5-credit, on-campus Math or Science course and the level 1 winner received a computer backpack and 8G jump drive. Second place finishers received a laptop backpack and third place received a laptop sleeve.
Other awards presented to students included: gold level achievement certificates for superior proficiency on the Challenges in Science Competition Exam, silver level achievement certificates for outstanding proficiency, and bronze level achievement certificates for proficiency.
OJC's Math and Science Department supports the efforts to increase the understanding of mathematics and science at all age levels. OJC supports projects and programs promoting mathematics and science education through a variety of outreach programs for our area youth including the Math Olympiads, the Science Olympiads, Science Fair and Girls in the Middle.
Challenges in Science Winners:
Level 1, Middle School
First Place (three-way tie): Destiny Clarke, Cheraw Middle School, teacher - Mrs. Mayo
Elizabeth Weber, Swink Middle School, teacher - Mr. Ritter
Kaitlyn Smith, Fowler Middle School teacher - Mrs. Autry
Second Place: Kailee Trujillo, Cheraw Middle School, teacher - Mrs. Mayo
Third Place: Nigel Gronemeyer, Cheraw Middle School, teacher - Mrs. Mayo
Gold Level:
Dustin Carroll, Manzanola
Derick Carroll, Manzanola
Daryl Nichols, Swink
Kaine Jones, Manzanola
Mia Padilla, Manzanola
Danielle Painter, Swink
Olivia Lewis, Swink
Tressa Reed, Fowler
Ray Kyner, Las Animas
Dylan Palomino, Fowler
Silver Level:
Rico Carale, Swink
Emmalee Krieger, Manzanola
Cheli Gonzalez, Fowler
Bethany Horiuchi, Swink
Dante Gumke, Las Animas
Makayla Huffman, Las Animas
Danile Leger, Las Animas
Kyle Hirakata, Swink
Emily Moreland, Rocky Ford
Bronze Level:
Jade Mora-Menges, Swink
Morgan Gribble, Swink
Jill Wallace, Swink
Reina Young, Rocky Ford
Jacee Manchego, Fowler
Jai Patel, Swink
Level 2, High School
First Place: Samantha Bartolo, Swink High School, teacher - Mr. Ritter
Second Place: Michael Gump, Crowley County High School, teacher - Ms. Reeves
Third Place: Brennan Bates, Fowler High School, teacher - Mr. Baublits
Gold Level:
Ashley Jordan, La Junta
Jacob Bauer, Crowley County
Kendal Martinez, Rocky Ford
Ryan Saine, Manzanola
Kyle Endsley, Manzanola
Silver Level:
Shania Hotchkiss, La Junta
Jacob Chambers, Cheraw
Tobias Kersey, Swink
Noah Nighswonger, Fowler
Tyler Horiuchi, Swink
Bronze Level:
Katelyn Griffee, Cheraw
Mitchel Fosdick, Fowler
Mikey Weber, Swink
Marcos Fernandez, Las Animas
Level 3, College/AP
First Place: Mackenzie Mayo, Cheraw High School, teacher - Mrs. Mayo
Second Place: Addy Foxhoven, Cheraw High School, teacher - Mrs. Mayo
Third Place: Marisa Cruz, Rocky Ford High School, teacher - Mrs. Jackson
Gold Level:
Mario George, Rocky Ford
Silver Level:
Rosa Maria Holguin, Rocky Ford
Bronze Level:
Tyler Stover, Manzanola

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